PH  I 

ill  It 


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PRESBYTERY  OF  NEW  YORK. 


|  ( W 

The',' Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
1/nited  States  of  America, 


against 


The  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.  D. 


AMENDED  CHARGES  AND 
(  SPECIFICATIONS. 


The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 

of  America, 

Represented  by  ^ 

George  W.  F.  Birch,  D.  D., 

Joseph  J.  Lampe,  D.  D., 

Robert  F.  Sample,  D.  D 
John  J.  Stevenson, 

John  J.  McCook, 


Prosecuting 

Committee. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  NEW  YORK. 


The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America, 


AGAINST 


The  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.  D. 


AMENDED  CHARGES  AND 
SPECIFICATIONS. 


The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 

of  America, 

Represented  by 

George  W.  F.  Birch,  D.  D.f 
Joseph  J.  Lampe,  D.  D., 

Robert  F.  Sample,  D.  D  ., 

John  J.  Stevenson, 

John  J.  McCook, 


Prosecuting’ 

Committee. 


PRESS  OP 
DOUGLAS  TAYLOR 
8  WARREN  ST 
ft«  Y. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  NEW  YORK. 


The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 

of  America 

AGAINST 

The  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briegs,  D.D. 


Amended  Charges  /nd  Specifications. 


Charge  I. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica  charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  being  a 
Minister  of  the  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Presby¬ 
tery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  the  Reason 
is  a  fountain  of  divine  authority  which  may  and  does 
savingly  enlighten  men,  even  such  men  as  reject  the 
Scriptures  as  the  authoritative  proclamation  of  the  will 
of  God  and  reject  also  the  way  of  salvation  through  the 
mediation  and  sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  God  as  revealed 
therein ;  which  is  contrary  to  the  essential  doctrine  of  the 
Holy  Scripture  and  of  the  Standards  of  the  said  Church, 
that  the  Holy  Scripture  is  most  necessary,  and  the  rule  of 
faith  and  practice. 

SPECIFICATION  1. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  H.H.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published  and 
extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  approval 
of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has  been 
republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface  and 
an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences, 


4 


Page  24,  lines  7-10  and  31-33 : 

4  4  Divine  authority  is  the  only  authority  to  which  man 
can  yield  implicit  obedience,  on  which  he  can  rest  in  loving- 
certainty  and  build  with  joyous  confidence.  *  *  *  There 
are  historically  three  great  fountains  of  divine  authority 
the  Bible,  the  Church,  and  the  Reason.” 

Page  27,  lines  9  to  21 : 

4  4  Martineau  could  not  find  divine  authority  in  the 
Church  or  the  Bible,  but  he  did  find  God  enthroned  in  his 
own  soul.  There  are  those  who  would  refuse  these  rational¬ 
ists  a  place  in  the  company  of  the  faithful.  But  they  forget 
that  the  essential  thing  is  to  find  God  and  divine  certainty , 
and  if  these  men  have  found  God  without  the  mediation  of 
Church  and  Bible,  Church  and  Bible  are  means  and  not 
ends;  they  are  avenues  to  God,  but  are  not  God.  We 
regret  that  these  rationalists  depreciate  the  means  of  grace 
so  essential  to  most  of  us,  but  we  are  warned  lest  we 
commit  a  similar  error,  and  depreciate  the  reason  and  the 
Christian  consciousness.” 

Inaugural  Address,  Appendix,  Second  Edition,  pages 
88,  89  : 

44  (c.)  Unless  God’s  authority  is  discerned  in  the  forms 
of  the  Reason,  there  is  no  ground  upon  which  any  of  the 
heathen  could  ever  have  been  saved,  for  they  know  noth¬ 
ing  of  Bible  or  Church.  If  they  are  not  savingly  enlight¬ 
ened  by  the  Light  of  the  World  in  the  forms  of  the  Reason 
the  whole  heathen  world  is  lost  forever.” 

SPECIFICATION  II. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  I).D. ,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 


5 


of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface 
and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences : 

Page  28,  lines  1  to  22 : 

“(3.)  The  Authority  of  Holy  Scripture. — We  have  exam¬ 
ined  the  Church  and  the  Reason  as  seats  of  divine  authority 
in  an  introduction  to  our  theme,  the  Authority  of  the  Scrip¬ 
tures ■,  because  they  open  our  eyes  to  see  mistakes  that  are 
common  to  the  three  departments.  Protestant  Christianity 
builds  its  faith  and  life  on  the  divine  authority  contained 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  too  often  depreciates  the  Church 
and  the  Reason.  Spurgeon  is  an  example  of  the  average 
modern  Evangelical,  who  holds  the  Protestant  position, 
and  assails  the  Church  and  Reason  in  the  interest  of 
the  authority  of  Scripture.  But  the  average  opinion 
of  the  Christian  world  would  not  assign  him  a  higher  place 
in  the  kingdom  of  God  than  Martineau  or  Newman.  May 
we  not  conclude,  on  the  whole,  that  these  three  represen¬ 
tative  Christians  of  our  time,  living  in  or  near  the  world’s 
metropolis,  have,  each  in  his  way,  found  God  and  rested 
on  divine  authority?  May  we  not  learn  from  them  not  to 
depreciate  any  of  the  means  whereby  God  makes  himself 
known  to  men  ?  Men  are  influenced  by  their  temperaments 
and  environments  which  of  the  three  ways  of  access  to  God 
they  may  pursue.  ” 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  Scripture : 

Isaiah  viii.  20.  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony :  if 
they  speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is  because  there 
is  no  light  in  them. 

Matt.  x.  32,  33. — 32  Whosoever  therefore  shall  confess 
me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven.  33  But  whosoever  shall  deny  me 


6 


before  men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before  my  Father  which 
is  in  heaven. 

Luke  xvi.  29-31. — 29  Abraham  saith  unto  him,  They  have 
Moses  and  the  prophets  ;  let  them  hear  them.  30  And 
he  said,  Nay,  father  Abraham  :  but  if  one  went  unto  them 
from  the  dead,  they  will  repent.  31  And  he  said  unto 
him,  If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither  will 
they  be  persuaded,  though  one  rose  from  the  dead. 

John  v.  39.  Search  the  Scriptures;  for  in  them  ye 
think  ye  have  eternal  life ;  And  they  are  they  which  testify 
of  me. 

John  xiv.  6.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  and 
the  truth,  and  the  life :  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father, 
but  by  me. 

1  John  v.  10.  He  that  belie veth  on  the  Son  of  God  hath 
the  witness  in  himself :  he  that  believeth  not  God  hath 
made  him  a  liar,  because  he  believeth  not  the  record  that 
God  gave  of  his  Son. 

Gal.  i.  9.  As  we  said  before,  so  say  I  now  again,  If  any 
man  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you  than  that  ye  have 
received,  let  him  be  accursed. 

2  Timothy  iii.  15-17. — 15  And  that  from  a  child  thou 

hast  known  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  are  able  to  make 
thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus.  16  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  cor¬ 
rection,  for  instruction  in  righteousness :  17  That  the 

man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto 
all  good  works. 

,2  Peter  i.  19-21. — 19  We  have  also  a  more  sure  word 
of  prophecy ;  whereunto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take  heed,  as 
unto  a  light  that  shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day 
dawn,  and  the  day  star  arise  in  your  hearts :  20  Knowing 
this  first,  that  no  prophecy  of  the  Scripture  is  of  any 
private  interpretation.  21  For  the  prophecy  came  not  in 


7 


old  time  by  the  will  of  man :  but  holy  men  of  God  spake 
as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  the  Standards : 
Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  I.,  Secs.  I.,  V.,  VI, ,  X. 

I.  Although  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  works  of  crea¬ 
tion  and  providence,  do  so  far  manifest  the  goodness,  wis¬ 
dom,  and  power  of  God,  as  to  leave  men  inexcusable;,  yet 
they  are  not  sufficient  to  give  that  knowledge  of  God ,  and 
of  his  will ,  which  is  necessary  unto  salvation ;  therefore  it 
pleased  the  Lord, ,  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers  manners, 
to  reveal  himself,  and  to  declare  that  his  will  unto  his 
church ;  and  afterwards ,  for  the  better  preserving  and 
propagating  of  the  truth,  and  for  the  more  sure  establish¬ 
ment  and  comfort  of  the  church  against  the  corruption  of 
the  flesh,  and  the  malice  of  Satan  and  of  the  world,  to 
commit  the  same  wholly  unto  writing  :  which  maketh  the 
Holy  Scripture  to  be  most  necessary /  those  former  ways  of 
God’s  revealing  his  will  unto  his  people  being  now  ceased. 

V.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testimony  of 
the  church  to  an  high  and  reverent  esteem  for  the  Holy 
Scripture ;  and  the  heavenliness  of  the  matter,  the  efficacy 
of  the  doctrine,  the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  consent  of  all 
the  parts,  the  scope  of  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give  all 
glory  to  God,)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the  only  way 
of  man’s  salvation ,  the  many  other  incomparable  excel¬ 
lencies,  and  the  entire  perfection  thereof,  are  arguments 
whereby  it  doth  abundantly  evidence  itself  to  be  the  word 
of  God;  yet,  notwithstanding,  our  full  persuasion  and 
assurance  of  the  infallible  truth,  and  divine  authority 
thereof,  is  from  the  inward  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  bear¬ 
ing  witness  by  and  with  the  word  in  our  hearts. 

VI.  The  whole  counsel  of  God ,  concerning  all  things 


8 


necessary  for  Ills  own  glory ,  man’ s  salvation ,  faith , 
life ,  either  expressly  set  down  in  Scripture ,  or  by  good 

and  necessary  consequence  may  be  deduced  from  Scrip¬ 
ture  :  unto  which  nothing  at  any  time  is  to  be  added , 
whether  by  new  revelations  of  the  Spirit ,  or  traditions  of 
men.  Nevertheless  we  acknowledge  the  inward  illumina¬ 
tion  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  necessary  for  the  saving 
understanding  of  such  things  as  are  revealed  in  the  word ; 
and  that  there  are  some  circumstances  concerning  the  wor¬ 
ship  of  God,  and  government  of  the  church,  common  to 
human  actions  and  societies,  which  are  to  be  ordered  by 
the  light  of  nature  and  Christian  prudence,  according  to 
the  general  rules  of  the  word,  which  are  always  to  be 
observed. 

X.  The  Supreme  Judge ,  by  which  all  controversies  of 
religion  are  to  be  determined,  and  all  decrees  of  councils, 
opinions  of  ancient  writers,  doctrines  of  men,  and  private 
spirits,  are  to  be  examined,  and  in  whose  sentence  we  are 
to  rest,  can  be  no  other  but  the  Holy  Spirit  speaking  in 
the  Scripture. 

Larger  Catechism. 

Q.  2.  How  doth  it  appear  that  there  is  a  Godf 

A.  The  very  light  of  nature  in  man,  and  the  works  of 
God,  declare  plainly  that  there  is  a  God ;  but  his  word  and 
Spirit  only ,  do  sufficiently  and  effectually  reveal  him  unto 
men  for  their  salvation. 

Q.  3.  What  is  the  word  of  Godf 

A.  The  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
are  the  word  of  God,  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  obedience. 

Shorter  Catechism. 

Q.  2.  What  rule  hath  God  given  to  direct  us  how  we 
may  glorify  and*  enjoy  him  f 

A.  The  word  of  God,  which  is  contained  in  the  Scrip- 


9 


tures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  is  the  only  rule  to 
direct  us  how  we  may  glorify  and  enjoy  him. 


Charge  II. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  be¬ 
ing  a  Minister  of  the  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  the  Church 
is  a  fountain  of  divine  authority  which,  apart  from  the 
Holy  Scripture,  may  and  does  savingly  enlighten 
men ;  which  is  contrary  to  the  essential  doctrine 
of  the  Holy  Scripture  and  of  the  Standards  of  the  said 
Church,  that  the  Holy  Scripture  is  most  necessary  and  the 
rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

SPECIFICATION  I 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface 
and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences : 

Page  24,  lines  7-10  and  81-38 : 

‘ c  Divine  authority  is  the  only  authority  to  which  man 
can  yield  implicit  obedience,  on  which  he  can  rest  in  loving 
certainty  and  build  with  joyous  confidence.  *  *  *  There 
are  historically  three  great  fountains  of  divine  authority — 
the  Bible,  the  Church,  and  the  Reason. 


10 


Page  25,  lines  1  to  14  inclusive. 

“(1.)  The  Authority  of  the  Church. — The  majority  of 
Christians  from  the  apostolic  age  have  found  God  through 
the  Church.  Martyrs  and  Saints,  Fathers  and  Schoolmen, 
the  profoundest  intellects,  the  saintliest  lives,  have  had 
this  experience.  Institutional  Christianity  has  been  to 
them  the  presence-chamber  of  God.  They  have  therein 
and  thereby  entered  into  communion  with  all  saints.  It 
is  difficult  for  many  Protestants  to  regard  this  experience 
as  any  other  than  pious  illusion  and  delusion.  But  what 
shall  we  say  of  a  modern  like  Newman,  who  could  not 
reach  certainty,  striving  never  so  hard,  through  the  Bible 
or  the  Reason,  but  who  did  find  divine  authority  in  the 
institutions  of  the  Church  ?  5  ’ 

SPECIFICATION  II. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  pre¬ 
face  and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sen¬ 
tences  : 

Page  28,  lines  1  to  22,  are : 

“(3.)  The  Authority  of  Holy  Scripture. — We  have  exam¬ 
ined  the  Church  and  the  Reason  as  seats  of  divine  authority 
in  an  introduction  to  our  theme,  the  Authority  of  the  Scrip¬ 
tures,  because  they  open  our  eyes  to  see  mistakes  that  are 
common  to  the  three  departments.  Protestant  Christianity 


11 


builds  its  faith  and  life  on  the  divine  authority  contained 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  too  often  depreciates  the  Church 
and  the  Reason.  Spurgeon  is  an  example  of  the  average 
modern  Evangelical,  who  holds  the  Protestant  position, 
and  assails  the  Church  and  Reason  in  the  interest  of 
the  authority  of  Scripture.  But  the  average  opinion  of 
the  Christian  world  would  not  assign  him  a  higher  place 
in  the  kingdom  of  God  than  Martineau  or  Newman.  May 
we  not  conclude,  on  the  whole,  that  these  three  represen¬ 
tative  Christians  of  our  time,  living  in  or  near  the  world’s 
metropolis,  have,  each  in  his  way,  found  God  and  rested 
on  divine  authority  ?  May  we  not  learn  from  them  not  to 
depreciate  any  of  the  means  whereby  God  makes  himself 
known  to  men  ?  Men  are  influenced  by  their  temperaments 
and  environments  which  of  the  three  ways  of  access  to  God 
they  may  pursue.” 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  the  Holy  Scripture. 

Isaiah  viii.  20.  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony:  if 
they  speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is  because  there 
is  no  light  in  them. 

Matt.  x.  32,  33. — 32  Whosoever  therefore  shall  confess 
me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven.  33  But  whosoever  shall  deny  me 
before  men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before  my  Father  which 
is  in  heaven. 

Luke  xvi.  29-31.— 29  Abraham  saith  unto  him,  They 
have  Moses  and  the  prophets ;  let  them  hear  them.  30  And 
he  said,  Nay,  father  Abraham  :  but  if  one  went  unto  them 
from  the  dead,  they  will  repent.  31  And  he  said  unto 
him,  If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither  will 
they  be  persuaded,  though  one  rose  from  the  dead. 

John  v.  39.  Search  the  Scriptures;  for  in  them  ye 
think  ye  have  eternal  life;  And  they  are  they  which  testify 
of  me. 


12 


John  xiv.  6.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  and 
the  truth  and  the  life :  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father  but 
by  me. 

1  John  v.  10.  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  of  God  hath 
the  witness  in  himself :  he  that  believeth  not  God, hath  made 
him  a  liar,  because  he  believeth  not  the  record  that  God 
gave  of  his  Son. 

Gal.  i.  9.  As  we  said  before,  so  say  I  now  again,  if  any 
man  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you  than  that  ye  have 

received,  let  him  be  accursed. 

2  Timothy  iii.  15-17.— 15  And  that  from  a  child  thou 

hast  known  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  are  able  to  make 
thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus.  16  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God, 
and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction, 
for  instruction  in  righteousness  :  17  That  the  man  of  God 

may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works. 

2  Peter  i.  19-21. — 19  We  have  also  a  more  sure  word 
of  prophecy  5  whereunto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take  heed,  as 
unto  a  light  that  shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day 
dawn,  and  the  day  star  arise  in  your  hearts  :  20  Knowing 
this  first,  that  no  prophecy  of  the  Scripture  is  of  any 
private  interpretation.  21  For  the  prophecy  came  not  in 
old  time  by  the  will  of  man :  but  holy  men  of  God  spake 
as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  the  Standards  : 
Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  I.,  Secs.  I.,  V.,  VI.,  X. 

I.  Although  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  works  of  crea¬ 
tion  and  providence,  do  so  far  manifest  the  goodness,  wis¬ 
dom,  and  power  of  God,  as  to  leave  men  inexcusable  5  yet 
they  are  not  sufficient  to  give  that  knowledge  of  God l,  and 
of  his  will ,  which  is  necessary  unto  salvation;  therefore 


13 


it  pleased  the  Lord ,  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers  man¬ 
ners,  to  reveal  himself,  and  to  declare  that  his  will  unto 
liis  church ;  and  afterwards ,  for  the  better  preserving  and 
propagating  of  the  truth,  and  for  the  more  sure  establish¬ 
ment  and  comfort  of  the  church  against  the  corruption  of 
the  flesh,  and  the  malice  of  Satan  and  of  the  world,  to 
commit  the  same  wholly  unto  writing :  which  maketh  the 
Holy  Scripture  to  be  most  necessary  ;  those  former  ways  of 
God’s  revealing  his  will  unto  his  people  being  now  ceased. 

Y.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testimony  of 
the  church  to  an  high  and  reverent  esteem  for  the  Holy 
Scripture ;  and  the  heavenliness  of  the  matter,  the  efficacy 
of  the  doctrine,  the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  consent  of  all 
the  parts,  the  scope  of  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give  all 
glory  to  God,)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the  only  way 
of  man's  salvation ,  the  many  other  incomparable  excel¬ 
lencies,  and  the  entire  perfection  thereof,  are  arguments 
whereby  it  doth  abundantly  evidence  itself  to  be  the  word 
of  God;  yet,  notwithstanding,  our  full  persuasion  and 
assurance  of  the  infallible  truth,  and  divine  authority 
thereof,  is  from  the  inward  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  bear¬ 
ing  witness  by  and  with  the  word  in  our  hearts. 

YI.  The  whole  counsel  of  God ,  concerning  all  things 
necessary  for  his  own  glory ,  man's  salvation,  faith,  and 
lif  e,  is  either  expressly  set  down  in  Scripture,  or  by  good 
and  necessary  consequence  may  be  deduced  from  Scrip¬ 
ture  :  unto  which  nothing  at  any  time  is  to  be  added , 
whether  by  new  revelations  of  the  Spirit,  or  traditions  of 
men.  Nevertheless  we  acknowledge  the  inward  illumina¬ 
tion  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  necessary  for  the  saving 
understanding  of  such  things  as  are  revealed  in  the  word; 
and  that  there  are  some  circumstances  concerning  the  wor- 


14 


ship  of  God,  and  government  of  the  church,  common  to 
human  actions  and  societies,  which  are  to  be  ordered  by 
the  light  of  nature  and  Christian  prudence,  according  to 
the  general  rules  of  the  word,  which  are  always  to  be 

observed. 

t  ...  ' 

X.  The  Supreme  Judge ,  by  which  all  controversies  of 
religion  are  to  be  determined,  and  all  decrees  of  councils, 
opinions  of  ancient  writers,  doctrines  of  men,  and  private 
spirits,  are  to  be  examined,  and  in  whose  sentence  we  are 
to  rest,  can  be  no  other  but  the  Holy  Spirit  speaking  in 
the  Scripture. 

Larger  Catechism. 

Q.  2.  How  doth  it  appear  that  there  is  a  God  ? 

A.  The  very  light  of  nature  in  man,  and  the  works  of 
God,  declare  plainly  that  there  is  a  God ;  but  his  word 
and  Spirit  only ,  do  sufficiently  and  effectually  reveal  him 
unto  men  for  their  salvation. 

Q.  3.  What  is  the  word  of  God  f 

A.  The  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
are  the  word  of  God,  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  obedience. 

Shorter  Catechism. 

Q.  2.  What  rule  hath  God  given  to  direct  us  how  we 
may  glorify  and  enjoy  him  f 

|  |A.  The  word  of  God,  which  is  contained  in  the  Scrip¬ 
tures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  is  the  only  rule  to 
direct  us  how  we  may  glorify  and  enjoy  him. 

Charge  III. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica  charges  the  Pev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  being  a 
Minister  of  the  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Pres- 


% 


15 


bytery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  errors  may  have 
existed  in  the  original  text  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  as  it 
came  from  its  authors,  which  is  contrary  to  the  essential 
doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scripture  and  in  the  Standards 
of  the  said  Church,  that  the  Holy  Scripture  is  the  Word 
of  God  written,  immediately  inspired,  and  the  rule  of 
faith  and  practice. 

SPECIFICATION. 

In  an  Inauguml  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D. ,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface 
and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences, 
beginning  with  line  4  of  page  35  : 

‘  ‘  I  shall  venture  to  affirm  that,  so  far  as  I  can  see, 
there  are  errors  in  the  Scriptures  that  no  one  has 
been  able  to  explain  away ;  and  the  theory  that  they  were 
not  in  the  original  text  is  sheer  assumption,  upon  which 
no  mind  can  rest  with  certainty.  If  such  errors  destroy 
the  authority  of  the  Bible,  it  is  already  destroyed  for  his¬ 
torians.  Men  cannot  shut  their  eyes  to  truth  and  fact. 
But  on  what  authority  do  these  theologians  drive  men  from 
the  Bible  by  this  theory  of  inerrancy?  The  Bible  itself 
nowhere  makes  this  claim.  The  creeds  of  the  Church 
nowhere  sanction  it.  It  is  a  ghost  of  modern  evangelical¬ 
ism  to  frighten  children.  The  Bible  has  maintained  its 
authority  with  the  best  scholars  of  our  time,  who  with 
open  minds  have  been  willing  to  recognize  any  error  that 
might  be  pointed  out  by  Historical  Criticism ;  for  these 
errors  are  all  in  the  circumstantials  and  not  in  the  essen- 


16 


tials ;  they  are  in  the  human  setting,  not  in  the  precious  jewel 
itself;  they  are  found  in  that  section  of  the  Bible  that 
theologians  commonly  account  for  from  the  providential 
superintendence  of  the  mind  of  the  author,  as  distinguished 
from  divine  revelation  itself.  It  may  be  that  this  provi¬ 
dential  superintendence  gives  infallible  guidance  in  every 
particular ;  and  it  may  be  that  it  differs  but  little,  if  at  all, 
from  the  providential  superintendence  of  the  fathers  and 
schoolmen  and  theologians  of  the  Christian  Church.  It  is 
not  important  for  our  purpose  that  we  should  decide  this 
question.  If  we  should  abandon  the  whole  field  of  provi¬ 
dential  superintendence  so  far  as  inspiration  and  divine 
authority  are  concerned  and  limit  divine  inspiration  and 
authority  to  the  essential  contents  of  the  Bible,  to  its 
religion,  faith,  and  morals,  we  would  still  have  ample  room 
to  seek  divine  authority  where  alone  it  is  essential,  or  even 
important,  in  the  teaching  that  guides  our  devotions,  our 
thinking,  and  our  conduct.” 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  the  statements  of 
Scripture : 

Zech.  vii.  12.  Yea,  they  made  their  hearts  as  an  ada’ 
mant  stone,  lest  they  should  hear  the  law,  and  the  words 
which  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath  sent  in  his  Spirit  by  the 
former  prophets :  therefore  came  a  great  wrath  from  the 
Lord  of  hosts. 

Mark  vii.  13.  Making  the  word  of  God  of  none  effect 
through  your  tradition,  which  ye  have  delivered :  and 
many  such  like  things  do  ye. 

Homans  iii.  1,  2. — 1  What  advantage  then  hath  the 

Jew?  or  what  profit  is  there  of  circumcision?  2  Much 
every  way :  chiefiy,  because  that  unto  them  were  com¬ 
mitted  the  oracles  of  God. 

1  Cor.  ii.  13.  Which  things  also  we  speak,  not  in  the 
words  which  man’s  wisdom  teachetli,  but  which  the  Holy 


17 


Ghost  teaclieth;  comparing  spiritual  tilings  with  spir¬ 
itual. 

Galatians  iii.  8.  And  the  Scripture,  foreseeing  that 
God  would  justify  the  heathen  through  faith,  preached 
before  the  Gospel  unto  Abraham,  saying ,  In  thee  shall 
all  nations  be  blessed. 

2  Pet.  i.  20,  21. — 20  Knowing  this  first,  that  no  proph¬ 
ecy  of  the  Scripture  is  of  any  private  interpretation.  21 
For  the  prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man  : 
but  holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

2  Tim.  iii.  16.  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correc¬ 
tion,^  for  instruction  in  righteousness. 

These  statements  are  contrary  to  the  Standards. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  I.,  Secs.  I.,  II.,  IV.,  VIII. 

I.  Although  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  works  of 
creation  and  providence,  do  so  far  manifest  the  goodness, 
wisdom,  and  power  of  God,  as  to  leave  men  inexcusable ; 
yet  are  they  not  sufficient  to  give  that  knowledge  of  God, 
and  of  his  will,  which  is  necessary  unto  salvation ;  there¬ 
fore  it  pleased  the  Lord ,  at  sundry  times ,  and  in  divers 
manners ,  to  reveal  himself ,  and  to  declare  that  his  will  unto 
his  church;  and  afterwards ,  for  the  better  preserving 
and  propagating  of  the  truth,  and  for  the  more  sure  estab¬ 
lishment  and  comfort  of  the  church  against  the  corruption 
of  the  flesh,  and  the  malice  of  Satan  and  of  the  world,  to 
commit  the  same  wholly  unto  writing :  which  maketh  the 
Holy  Scripture  to  be  most  necessary  ;  those  former  ways  of 
God’s  revealing  his  will  unto  his  people  being  now  ceased. 

II.  Under  the  name  of  Holy  Scripture,  or  the  word  of 
God  ‘ written ,  are  now  contained  all  the  books  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  which  are  these : 


18 


OF  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT. 


Genesis. 

II.  Chronicles. 

Daniel. 

Exodus. 

Ezra. 

Hosea. 

Leviticus. 

Nehemiah. 

Joel. 

Numbers. 

Esther. 

Amos. 

Deuteronomy. 

Job. 

Obadiah. 

Joshua. 

Psalms. 

Jonah. 

Judges. 

Proverbs. 

Micah. 

Ruth. 

Ecclesiastes. 

Nahum. 

I.  Samuel. 

The  Song  of  Songs. 

Habakkuk. 

II.  Samuel. 

Isaiah. 

Zephaniah. 

I.  Kings. 

Jeremiah. 

Haggai. 

II.  Kings. 

Lamentations. 

Zechariah. 

I.  Chronicles. 

Ezekiel. 

Malachi. 

4 


OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 


The  Gospels  accord¬ 
ing  to 
Matthew, 

Mark, 

Luke, 

John. 

The  Acts  of  the 
Apostles. 

Paul’s  Epistles  to  the 
Romans. 
Corinthians,  I. 


Corinthians,  II. 
Galatians. 
Ephesians. 
Philippians. 
Colossians. 
Thessalonians,  I. 
Thessalonians,  II. 
To  Timothy,  I. 
To  Timothy,  II. 
To  Titus. 

To  Philemon. 


The  Epistle  to  the 
Hebrews. 

The  Epistle  of  James. 
The  first  and  second 
Epistles  of  Peter. 
The  first,  second  and 
third  Epistles  of 
John. 

The  Epistle  of  Jude. 
The  Revelation. 


All  which  are  given  by  inspiration  of  God ,  to  be  the 
rule  of  faith  and  life. 


IV. — The  authority  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  for  which  it 

ought  to  be  believed  and  obeyed,  dependeth  not  upon  the 
testimony  of  any  man  or  church,  but  wholly  upon  God , 
(who  is  truth  itself,)  the  author  thereof ;  and  therefore  it 
is  to  be  received ,  because  it  is  the  word  of  God. 


VIII.  The  Old  Testament  in  Hebrew,  (which  was  the 
native  language  of  the  people  of  God  of  old),  and  the  New 
Testament  in  Greek,  (which  at  the  time  of  the  writing  of 
it  was  most  generally  known  to  the  nations),  being  imme- 


19 


diately  inspired  by  God ,  and  by  his  singular  care  and 
providence,  kept  pure  in  all  ages,  are  therefore  authentical ; 
so  as  in  all  controversies  of  religion  the  Church  is  finally 
to  appeal  unto  them.  But  because  these  original  tongues 
are  not  known  to  all  the  people  of  God  who  have  right 
unto,  and  interest  in  the  Scriptures,  and  are  commanded, 
in  the  fear  of  God,  to  read  and  search  them,  therefore 
they  are  to  be  translated  into  the  vulgar  language  of  every 
nation  unto  which  they  come,  that  the  word  of  God  dwell¬ 
ing  plentifully  in  all,  they  may  worship  him  in  an  accept¬ 
able  manner,  and,  through  patience  and  comfort  of  the 
Scriptures,  may  have  hope. 


Charge  IV. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America 
charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  being  a  Min¬ 
ister  in  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Presby¬ 
tery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  many  of  the 
Old  Testament  predictions  have  been  reversed  by  history, 
and  that  the  great  body  of  Messianic  prediction  has  not 
been  and  cannot  be  fulfilled,  which  is  contrary  to  the  essen¬ 
tial  doctrine  of  Holy  Scripture  and  of  the  Standards  of  the 
said  Church,  that  God  is  true,  omniscient  and  unchangeable. 

SPECIFICATION. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D  .,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface 
and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences : 


20 


Page  38,  lines  20  to  30 : 

“(6.)  Minute  Prediction. — Another  barrier  to  the 
Bible  has  been  the  interpretation  put  upon  Predictive 
Prophecy ,  making  it  a  sort  of  history  before  the  time,  and 
looking  anxiously  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  details  of 
Biblical  prediction.  Kuenen  has  shown  that  if  we  insist 
upon  the  fulfillment  of  the  details  of  the  predictive 
prophecy  of  the  Old  Testament,  many  of  these  x^redictions 
have  been  reversed  by  history ;  and  the  great  body  of  the 
Messianic  prediction  has  not  only  never  been  fulfilled,  but 
cannot  now  be  fulfilled,  for  the  reason  that  its  own  time 
has  passed  forever.” 

This  declaration  is  contrary  to  Scripture : 

Matt.  v.  17,  18. — 17  Think  not  I  am  come  to  de¬ 
stroy  the  law,  or  the  prophets  :  I  am  not  come  to  destroy, 
but  to  fulfil.  18  For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  Till  heaven 
and  earth  pass,  one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  x>ass 
from  the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled. 

Matt.  xxiv.  15.  When  ye,  therefore,  shall  see  the 
abomination  of  desolation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the 
prophet,  stand  in  the  holy  place,  (whoso  readeth,  let  him 
understand.) 

Dan.  xii.  11.  And  from  the  time  that  the  daily  sacrifice 
shall  be  taken  away,  and  the  abomination  that  maketh 
desolate  set  up,  there  shall  loe  a  thousand  two  hundred 
and  ninety  days. 

Luke  xxiv.  44.  And  he  said  unto  them,  These  are  the 
words  which  I  sx>ake  unto  you,  while  I  was  yet  with  you, 
that  all  things  must  be  fulfilled  which  were  written  in  the 
law  of  Moses,  and  in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  x^salms, 
concerning  me. 

Exodus  xxxiv.  6.  And  the  Lord  passed  by  before  him, 
and  proclaimed,  The  Lord,  The  Lord  God,  merciful  and 


21 


gracious,  long  suffering,  and  abundant  in  goodness  and 
truth. 

Hebrews  iv.  13.  Neither  is  there  any  creature  that  is 
not  manifest  in  his  sight :  but  all  things  are  naked  and 
opened  unto  the  eyes  of  him  with  whom  we  have  to  do. 

James  i.  17.  Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is 
from  above,  and  cometh  down  from  the  Father  of  lights, 
with  whom  is  no  variableness,  neither  shadow  of  turning. 

This  declaration  is  contrary  to  the  Standards : 

Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  I.,  Section  IY. 

The  authority  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  for  which  it 
ought  to  be  believed  and  obeyed,  dependeth  not  upon  the 
testimony  of  any  man  or  church,  but  wholly  upon  God , 
(who  is  truth  itself ),  the  author  thereof /  and  therefore  it 
is  to  be  received,  because  it  is  the  word  of  God. 

Chap.  II.,  Sec.  I,  II. 

I.  There  is  but  one  only  living  and  true  God,  who  is 
infinite  in  being  and  perfection,  a  most  pure  spirit,  in¬ 
visible,  without  body,  parts,  or  passions,  immutable ,  im¬ 
mense,  eternal,  incomprehensible,  almighty,  most  wise , 
most  holy,  most  free,  most  absolute,  working  all  things 
according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  immutable  and  most 
righteous  will ,  for  his  own  glory ;  most  loving,  gracious, 
merciful,  long  suffering,  abundant  in  goodness  and  truth , 
forgiving  iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin ;  the  rewarder  of 
them  that  diligently  seek  him  ;  and  withal  most  just  and 
terrible  in  his  judgments ;  hating  all  sin,  and  who  will  by 
no  means  clear  the  guilty. 

II.  God  hath  all  life,  glory,  goodness,  blessedness,  in 
and  of  himself;  and  is  alone  in  and  unto  himself  all- 
sufficient,  not  standing  in  need  of  any  creatures  which  he 
hath  made,  nor  deriving  any  glory  from  them,  but  only 
manifesting  his  own  glory  in,  by,  unto  and  upon  them : 


22 


he  is  the  alone  fountain  of  all  being,  of  whom,  through 

whom,  and  to  whom,  are  all  things :  and  hath  most  sover¬ 
eign  dominion  over  them,  to  do  by  them,  for  them,  or 
upon  them,  whatsoever  himself  pleaseth.  In  his  sight 
all  things  are  open  and  manifest ;  his  knowledge  is  in¬ 
finite ,  infallible ,  and  independent  upon  the  creature ,  so 
as  nothing  is  to  him  contingent  or  uncertain.  He  is  most 
holy  in  all  his  counsels,  in  all  his  works,  and  in  all  his 
commands.  To  him  ds  due  from  angels  and  men,  and 
every  other  creature,  whatsoever  worship,  service,  or  obedi¬ 
ence,  he  is  pleased  to  require  of  them. 

Shorter  Catechism. 

Q.  4.  What  is  God  f 

A.  God  is  a  Spirit,  infinite,  eternal,  and  unchangeable,  in 
his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  justice,  goodness,  and 
truth. 


Charge  V. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  being 
a  Minister  of  the  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Pres¬ 
bytery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  Moses  is  not  the 
author  of  the  Pentateuch,  which  is  contrary  to  direct  state¬ 
ments  of  Holy  Scripture  and  to  the  essential  doctrines  of 
the  Standards  of  the  said  Church,  that  the  Holy  Scrip¬ 
ture  evidences  itself  to  be  the  word  of  God  by  the  consent 
of  all  the  parts,  and  that  the  infallible  rule  of  interpreta¬ 
tion  of  Scripture  is  the  Scripture  itself. 

SPECIFIC  A  TION. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 

A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 


23 


occasion  of  liis  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a 
preface  and  an  appendix,  there  occurs  the  following  sen¬ 
tence  : 

Page  33,  lines  6-8. 

u  It  may  be  regarded  as  the  certain  result  of  the  science 
of  the  Higher  Criticism  that  Moses  did  not  write  the  Pen 
tateuch.” 

This  declaration  is  contrary  to  direct  statements  of 
Scripture. 

Ex.  xxiv.  4.  And  Moses  wrote  all  the  words  of  the 
Lord,  and  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  builded  an 
altar  under  the  hill,  and  twelve  pillars  according  to  the 
twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 

Num.  xxxiii.  2.  And  Moses  wrote  their  goings  out 
according  to  their  journeys  by  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord:  and  these  are  their  journeys  according  to  their 
goings  out. 

Deut.  v.  31.  But  as  for  thee,  stand  thou  here  by  me, 
and  I  will  speak  unto  thee  all  the  commandments,  and  the 
statutes,  and  the  judgments,  which  thou  shalt  teach  them, 
that  they  may  do  thewj  in  the  land  which  I  give  them  to 
possess  it. 

Deut.  xxxi.  9.  And  Moses  wrote  this  law,  and  de¬ 
livered  it  unto  the  priests  the  sons  of  Levi,  which  bare  the 

ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord,  and  unto  all  the  elders  of 
Israel. 

Josh.  i.  7,  8. — 7  Only  be  thou  strong  and  very  courageous, 
that  thou  mayest  observe  to  do  according  to  all  the  law 
which  Moses  my  servant  commanded  thee :  turn  not  from 


24 


it  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left,  that  thou  mayest  prosper 
whithersoever  thou  goest.  8  This  book  of  the  law  shall 
not  depart  out  of  thy  month ;  but  thou  shalt  meditate 
therein  day  and  night,  that  thou  mayest  observe  to  do 
according  to  all  that  is  written  therein  :  for  then  thou  shalt 
make  thy  way  prosperous,  and  then  thou  shalt  have  good 
success. 

1  Kings,  ii.  3.  And  keep  the  charge  of  the  Lord  thy  God, 
to  walk  in  his  ways,  to  keep  his  statutes,  and  his  com¬ 
mandments,  and  his  judgments,  and  his  testimonies,  as  it 
is  written  in  the  law  of  Moses  that  thou  mayest  prosper  in 
all  that  thou  doest,  and  whithersoever  thou  tnrnest  thyself  : 

1.  Chron.  vi.  49.  But  Aaron  and  his  sons  offered  upon 
the  altar  of  the  burnt  offering,  and  on  the  altar  of  incense, 
and  were  appointed  for  all  the  work  of  the  place  most 
holy,  and  to  make  an  atonement  for  Israel,  according  to 
all  that  Moses  the  servant  of  God  had  commanded. 

Ezra  iii.  2.  Then  stood  up  Jeslma,  the  son  of  Jozadak, 
and  his  brethren  the  priests,  and  Zerubbabel  the  son  of 
Shealtiel,  and  his  brethren,  and  bnilded  the  altar  of  the 
God  of  Israel,  to  offer  burnt  offerings  thereon,  as  it  is 
written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  the  man  of  God. 

Ezra  vi.  18.  And  they  set  the  priests  in  their  divisions, 
and  the  Levites  in  their  courses,  for  the  service  of  God, 
which  is  at  Jerusalem;  as  it  is  written  in  the  book  of 
Moses. 

Neh.  i.  7.  We  have  dealt  very  corruptly  against  thee,  • 
and  have  not  kept  the  commandments,  nor  the  statutes, 
nor  the  judgments,  which  thou  commandedst  thy  servant 
Moses. 

Luke  xxiv.  27,  44. — 27  And  beginning  at  Moses,  and 
all  the  prophets,  he  expounded  unto  them  in  all  the 
Scriptures  the  things  concerning  himself.  44  And  he 
said  unto  them,  These  are  the  words  which  I  spake  unto 
you,  while  I  was  yet  with  you,  that  all  things  must  be  ful- 


25 


filled  which  were  written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in  the 
prophets,  and  in  the  psalms,  concerning  me. 

John  v.  45  to  47. — 45  Do  not  think  that  I  will  accuse 
yon  to  the  Father :  there  is  one  that  accuseth  you,  even 
Moses,  in  whom  ye  trust.  46  For  had  ye  believed  Moses, 
ye  would  have  believed  me :  for  he  wrote  of  me.  47  But 
if  ye  believe  not  his  writings,  how  shall  ye  believe  my 
words  ? 

Acts  vii.  38.  This  is  he  that  was  in  the  church  in  the 
wilderness  with  the  angel  which  spoke  to  him  in  the 
Mount  Sina,  and  with  our  fathers  :  who  received  the  lively 
oracles  to  give  unto  us. 

Acts  xv.  21.  For  Moses  of  old  time  hath  in  every  city 
them  that  preach  him,  being  read  in  the  synagogues  every 
sabbath  day. 

This  declaration  is  contrary  to  the  Standards. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  1,  Secs.  V  and  IX. 

Y.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testimony  of 
the  church  to  an  high  and  reverent  esteem  for  the  Holy 
Scripture ;  and  the  heavenliness  of  the  matter,  the  efficacy 
of  the  doctrine,  the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  consent  of  all 
the  parts,  the  scope  of  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give  all 
glory  to  God,)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the  only  way 
of  man’s  salvation,  the  many  other  incomparable  excel¬ 
lencies,  and  the  entire  perfection  thereof,  are  arguments 
whereby  it  doth  abundantly  evidence  itself  to  be  the  word 
of  God ;  yet,  notwithstanding,  our  full  persuasion  and 
assurance  of  the  infallible  truth,  and  divine  authority 
thereof,  is  from  the  inward  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  bear¬ 
ing  witness  by  and  with  the  word  in  our  hearts. 

IX.  The  infallible  rule  of  interpretation  of  Scripture 
is  the  Scripture  itself  /  and  therefore,  when  there  is  a 
question  about  the  true  and  full  sense  of  any  scripture, 


26 


* 


(which  is  not  manifold,  but  one,)  it  may  be  searched  and 
known  by  other  places  that  speak  more  clearly. 

Chaege  YI. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  being 
a  Minister  of  the  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Pres¬ 
bytery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  Isaiah  is  not  the 
author  of  half  of  the  book  that  bears  his  name,  which  is 
contrary  to  direct  statements  of  Holy  Scripture  and  to  the 
essential  doctrines  of  the  Standards  of  the  said  Church 
that  the  Holy  Scripture  evidences  itself  to  be  the  word  of 
God  by  the  consent  of  all  the  parts,  and  that  the  infalli¬ 
ble  rule  of  interpretation  of  Scripture  is  the  Scripture 
itself. 

SPECIFIC  A  TION. 

■  In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface 
and  an  appendix,  there  occurs  the  following  sentence : 

Page  38,  lines  14-15 : 

“  Isaiah  did  not  write  half  of  the  book  that  bears  his 
name.” 

This  declaration  is  contrary  to  direct  statements  of 
Scripture : 

Matt.  iv.  14,  15. — 14  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which 
was  spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  15  The  land 


27 


of  Zabulon,  and  the  land  of  Nepthalim,  by  the  way  of  the 
sea,  beyond  Jordan,  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles  : 

Matt.  xii.  17, 18. — 17  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  18  Behold  my  ser¬ 
vant,  whom  I  have  chosen ;  my  beloved,  in  whom  my  soul 
is  well  pleased  :  I  will  put  my  Spirit  upon  him,  and  he  shall 
shew  judgment  to  the  Gentiles. 

Luke  iii.  4. — As  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  the  words 
of  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  The  voice  of  one  crying  in 
the  wilderness,  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  his 
paths  straight. 

Acts  xxviii.  25,  26. — 25  And  when  they  agreed  not 
among  themselves,  they  departed,  after  that  Paul  had 
spoken  one  word,  well  spake  the  Holy  Ghost  by  Esaias 
the  prophet  unto  our  fathers,  26  Saying,  Go  unto  this 
people,  and  say,  Hearing  ye  shall  hear,  and  shall  not 
understand ;  and  seeing  ye  shall  see,  and  not  perceive. 

John  xii.  38,  41. — 38  That  the  saying  of  Esaias  the 
prophet  might  be  fulfilled,  which  he  spake,  Lord,  who  hath 
believed  our  report?  and  to  whom  hath  the  arm  of  the  Lord 
been  revealed?  41  These  things  said  Esaias,  when  he  saw 
his  glory  and  spake  of  him. 

Rom.  x.  16,  20. — 16  But  they  have  not  all  obeyed  the 
gospel.  For  Esaias  saith,  Lord,  who  hath  believed  our 
report?  20  But  Esaias  is  very  bold,  and  saith,  I  was  found 
of  them  that  sought  me  not ;  I  was  made  manifest  unto 
them  that  asked  not  after  me. 

This  declaration  is  contrary  to  the  Standards. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  1,  Secs.  V.  and  IX. 

V.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testimony  of 
the  church  to  an  high  and  reverent  esteem  for  the  Holy 
Scripture ;  and  the  heavenliness  of  the  matter,  the  efficacy 
of  the  doctrine,  the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  consent  of 
alt  the  parts ,  the  scope  of  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give  all 


28 


glory  to  God,)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the  only  way 
of  man’s  salvation,  the  many  other  incomparable  excel¬ 
lencies,  and  the  entire  'perfection  thereof ',  are  arguments 
whereby  it  doth  abundantly  evidence  itself  to  be  the  word 
of  God;  yet,  notwithstanding,  our  full  persuasion  and 
assurance  of  the  infallible  truth,  and  divine  authority 
thereof,  is  from  the  inward  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  bear¬ 
ing  witness  by  and  with  the  word  in  our  hearts. 

IX.  The  infallible  rule  of  interpretation  of  Scripture  is 
the  Scripture  itself ;  and  therefore,  when  there  is  a  ques¬ 
tion  about  the  true  and  full  sense  of  any  scripture,  (which 
is  not  manifold,  but  one,)  it  may  be  searched  and  known 
by  other  places  that  speak  more  clearly. 

Charge  VII. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica  charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  being  a 
minister  of  said  Church,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbytery 
of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  the  processes  of  redemp¬ 
tion  extend  to  the  world  to  come  in  the  case  of  many 
who  die  in  sin ;  which  is  contrary  to  the  essential  doctrine 
of  Holy  Scripture  and  the  Standards  of  the  said  Church, 
that  the  processes  of  redemption  are  limited  to  this 
world. 

SPECIFICATION. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 


29 


been  republished  by  Mm  in  a  second  edition  with  a  xme- 
face  and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences  : 

Page  50 :  “  The  processes  of  redemption  ever  keep  the 
race  in  mind.  The  Bible  tells  us  of  a  race  origin,  a  race 
sin,  a  race  ideal,  a  race  Redeemer,  and  a  race  redemption.” 

'  i 

Page  53  :  “  (c.)  Another  fault  of  Protestant  theology  is 
in  its  limitation  of  the  process  of  redemption  to  this  world, 
and  its  neglect  of  those  vast  x>eriods  of  time  which  have 
elapsed  for  most  men  in  the  Middle  State  between  death 
and  the  resurrection.” 

Pages  55  and  56.  “  The  Bible  does  not  teach  universal 

salvation,  but  it  does  teach  the  salvation  of  the  world, 
of  the  race  of  man,  and  that  cannot  be  accomplished  by 
the  selection  of  a  limited  number  of  individuals  from  the 
mass.  The  holy  arm  that  worketh  salvation  does  not  con¬ 
tract  its  hand  in  grasping  only  a  few ;  it  stretches  its  loving 
fingers  so  as  to  comprehend  as  many  as  possible — a  definite 
number,  but  multitudes  that  no  one  can  number. 
The  salvation  of  the  world  can  only  mean  the  world  as  a 
whole,  compared  with  which  the  unredeemed  will  be  so 
few  and  insignificant,  and  evidently  beyond  the  reach  of 
redemption  by  their  own  act  of  rejecting  it  and  hardening 
themselves  against  it,  and  by  descending  into  such  depths 
of  demoniacal  depravity  in  the  Middle  State,  that  they 
will  vanish  from  the  sight  of  the  redeemed  as  altogether 
and  irredeemably  evil,  and  never  more  disturb  the  har¬ 
monies  of  the  saints.” 

Inaugural  Address,  Appendix,  2d  ed. 

Page  104.  This  raises  the  question  whether  any  man  is 
irretrievably  lost  ere  he  commits  this  unpardonable  sin, 
and  whether  those  who  do  not  commit  it  in  this  world  ere 
they  die  are,  by  the  mere  crisis  of  death,  brought  into  an 
unpardonable  state;  and  whether,  when  Jesus  said  that 
this  sin  against  the  Holy  Spirit  was  unpardonable  here  and 


30 


also  hereafter,  he  did  not  imply  that  all  other  sins  might 
be  pardoned  hereafter  as  well  as  here. 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  direct  statements  of 
Scripture : 

Prov.  xi.  7.  When  a  wicked  man  dieth,  his  expecta¬ 
tion  shall  perish :  and  the  hope  of  unjust  men  perisheth. 

Luke  xvi.  22,  23. — 22  And  it  came  to  pass  that  the 
beggar  died,  and  was  carried  by  the  angels  into  Abraham’s 
bosom :  the  rich  man  also  died,  and  was  buried ;  23  And 
in  hell  he  lift  up  his  eyes,  being  in  torments,  and  seeth 
Abraham  afar  off,  and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom. 

John  viii.  24.  For  if  ye  believe  not  that  I  am  He ,  ye 
shall  die  in  your  sins. 

II.  Cor.  vi.  2.  Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time ;  be¬ 
hold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation . 

Heb.  iv.  7.  To-day,  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not 
your  hearts. 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  the  Standards : 
Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  XXXII.,  Sec.  I. 

I.  The  bodies  of  men,  after  death,  return  to  dust,  and  see 
corruption ;  but  their  souls,  (which  neither  die  nor  sleep), 
having  an  immortal  subsistence,  immediately  return  to 
God  who  gave  them.  The  souls  of  the  righteous,  being 
then  made  perfect  in  holiness,  are  received  into  the  high 
est  heavens,  where  they  behold  the  face  of  God  in  light  and 
glory,  waiting  for  the  full  redemption  of  their  bodies: 
and  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  cast  into  hell ,  where  they 
remain  in  torments  and  utter  darkness ,  reserved  to  the 
judgment  of  the  great  day.  Besides  these  two  places  for 
souls  separated  from  their  bodies,  the  Scripture  acknowl- 
edgeth  none. 

Larger  Catechism. 

Q.  83.  What  is  the  communion  in  glory  loith  Christ , 
which  the  members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  in  this 
life  f 


31 


A.  Tlie  members  of  the  invisible  church  have  communi¬ 
cated  to  them,  in  this  life,  the  first-fruits  of  glory  with 
Christ,  as  they  are  members  of  him  their  head,  and  so 
in  him  are  interested  in  that  glory  which  he  is  fully 
possessed  of ;  and  as  an  earnest  thereof,  enjoy  the  sense 
of  God’s  love,  peace  of  conscience,  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  hope  of  glory.  As,  on  the  contrary,  sense  of  God’s 
revenging  wrath,  horror  of  conscience,  and  a  fearful  ex¬ 
pectation  of  judgment,  are  to  the  wicked  the  beginning  of 
the  torments,  which  they  shall  endure  after  death. 

Q.  86.  What  is  the  communion  in  glory  with  Christ , 
which  the  members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  immedi¬ 
ately  after  death  f 

A.  The  communion  in  glory  with  Christ,  which  the 
members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  immediately  after 
death,  is  in  that  their  souls  are  then  made  perfect  in  holi¬ 
ness,  and  received  into  the  highest  heavens,  where  they 
behold  the  face  of  God  in  light  and  glory ;  waiting  for  the 
full  redemption  of  their  bodies,  which  even  in  death  con¬ 
tinue  united  to  Christ,  and  rest  in  their  graves  as  in  their 
beds,  till  at  the  last  day  they  be  again  united  to  their 
souls.  Whereas  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  at  their  death 
cast  into  hell ,  where  they  remain  in  torments  and  utter 
darkness  ;  and  their  bodies  kept  in  their  graves,  as  in  their 
prisons  until  the  resurrection  and  judgment  of  the  great 
day. 


Charge  VIII. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America  charges  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.I).,  being 
a  Minister  of  the  said  Church  and  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  with  teaching  that  Sanctifica¬ 
tion  is  not  complete  at  death,  which  is  contrary  to  the 
essential  doctrine  of  Holy  Scripture  and  of  the  Standards 


32 


t 


of  the  said  Church  that  the  souls  of  believers  are  at 
their  death  at  once  made  perfect  in  holiness. 

SPECIFIC  A  TION. 

In  an  Inaugural  Address,  which  the  said  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  delivered  at  the  Union  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary  in  the  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1891,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  induction  into  the  Edward  Robinson  Chair 
of  Biblical  Theology,  which  Address  has  been  published 
and  extensively  circulated  with  the  knowledge  and  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  and  has 
been  republished  by  him  in  a  second  edition  with  a  preface 
and  an  appendix,  there  occur  the  following  sentences  : 

Pages  53,  54,  55 : 

“  (c.)  Another  fault  of  Protestant  theology  is  in  its  limi¬ 
tation  of  the  process  of  redemption  to  this  world,  and 
its  neglect  of  those  vast  periods  of  time  which  have 
elapsed  for  most  men  in  the  Middle  State  between  death 
and  the  resurrection.  The  Roman  Catholic  Church  is 
firmer  here,  though  it  smears  the  Biblical  doctrine  with 
not  a  few  hurtful  errors.  The  reaction  against  this  limita¬ 
tion,  as  seen  in  the  theory  of  second  probation,  is  not  sur¬ 
prising.  I  do  not  find  this  doctrine  in  the  Bible,  but  I  do 
find  in  the  Bible  the  doctrine  of  a  Middle  State  of  con¬ 
scious  higher  life  in  the  communion  with  Christ  and  the 
multitude  of  the  departed  of  all  ages ;  and  of  the  neces¬ 
sity  of  entire  sanctification,  in  order  that  the  work  of  re¬ 
demption  may  be  completed.  There  is  no  authority  in  the 
Scriptures,  or  in  the  creeds  of  Christendom,  for  the 
doctrine  of  immediate  sanctification  at  death.  The  only 
sanctification  known  to  experience,  to  Christian  orthodoxy, 
and  to  the  Bible,  is  progressive  sanctification.  Progress¬ 
ive  sanctification  after  death,  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Bible 
and  the  Church;  and  it  is  of  vast  importance  in  our 
times  that  we  should  understand  it,  and  live  in  accordance 


33 


with  it.  The  bugbear  of  a  judgment  immediately  after 
death,  and  the  illusion  of  a  magical  transformation  in  the 
dying  hour,  should  be  banished  from  the  world.  They  are 
conceits  derived  from  the  Ethnic  religions,  and  without 
basis  in  the  Bible  or  Christian  experience  as  expressed  in 
the  symbols  of  the  Church.  The  former  makes  death  a 
terror  to  the  best  of  men,  the  latter  makes  human  life  and 
experience  of  no  effect ;  and  both  cut  the  nerves  of  Chris¬ 
tian  activity  and  striving  after  sanctification.  Renouncing 
them  as  hurtful,  unchristian  errors,  we  look  with  hope 
and  joy  for  the  continuation  of  the  processes  of  grace,  and 
the  wonders  of  redemption  in  the  company  of  the  blessed, 
to  which  the  faithful  are  all  hastening.” 

Inaugural  Address,  Appendix,  2d  ed.,  pages  107,  108, 
‘  ‘  Sanctifica  tion  has  two  sides — a  negative  and  a  positive — 
mortification  and  vivification ;  the  former  is  manward,  the 
latter  is  Grodward.  Believers  who  enter  the  middle  state, 
enter  guiltless ;  they  are  pardoned  and  justified ;  they  are 
mantled  in  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ;  and 
nothing  will  be  able  to  separate  them  from  His  love.  They 
are  also  delivered  from  all  temptations  such  as  spring 
from  without,  from  the  world  and  the  devil.  They  are 
encircled  with  influences  for  good  such  as  they  have 
never  enjoyed  before.  But  they  are  still  the  same  persons, 
with  all  the  gifts  and  graces,  and  also  the  same  habits  of 
mind,  disposition,  and  temper  they  had  when  they  left  the 
world.  Death  destroys  the  body.  It  does  not  change  the 
moral  and  religious  nature  of  man.  It  is  unpsychological 
and  unethical  to  suppose  that  the  character  of  the  disem¬ 
bodied  spirit  will  all  be  changed  in  the  moment  of  death. 
It  is  the  Manichean  heresy  to  hold  that  sin  belongs  to  the 
physical  organization  and  is  laid  aside  with  the  body.  If 
this  were  so,  how  can  any  of  our  race  carry  their  evil 
natures  with  them  into  the  middle  state  and  incur  the  pun- 


34 


ishinent  of  their  sins  ?  The  eternal  punishment  of  a  man 
whose  evil  nature  has  been  stripped  from  him  by  death 
and  left  in  the  grave,  is  an  absurdity.  The  Plymouth 
Brethren  hold  that  there  are  two  natures  in  the  redeemed 
— the  old  man  and  the  new.  In  accordance  with  such  a 
theory,  the  old  man  might  be  cast  off  at  death.  But  this 
is  only  a  more  subtile  kind  of  Manicheism,  which  has  ever 
been  regarded  as  heretical.  Sin,  as  our  Saviour  teaches, 
has  its  source  in  the  heart — in  the  higher  and  immortal 
part  of  man.  It  is  the  work  of  sanctification  to  overcome 
sin  in  the  higher  nature.” 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  Scripture: 

1  Cor.  xv.  51,  52. — 51  Behold,  I  shew  you  a  mystery ; 
We  shall  not  all  sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed.  52  In 
a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump  : 
for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised 
incorruptible,  and  we  shall  be  changed. 

Heb.  xii.  23. — To  the  general  assembly  and  church  of 
the  firstborn,  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God 
the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect. 

These  declarations  are  contrary  to  the  Standards : 
Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  XXXII.,  Sec.  I. 

I.  The  bodies  of  men,  after  death,  return  to  dust,  and 
see  corruption ;  but  their  souls  (which  neither  die  nor  sleep), 
having  an  immortal  subsistence,  immediately  return  to 
God  who  gave  them.  The  souls  of  the  righteous ,  being 
then  made  perfect  in  holiness ,  are  received  into  the  high¬ 
est  heavens ,  where  they  behold  the  face  of  God  in  light  and 
glory,  waiting  for  the  full  redemption  of  their  bodies : 
and  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  cast  into  hell,  where  they 
remain  in  torments  and  utter  darkness,  reserved  to  the 


35 


judgment  of  the  great  day.  Besides  these  two  places  for 
souls  separated  from  their  bodies,  the  Scripture  acknowl- 
edgeth  none. 

Larger  Catechism. 

Q.  86.  What  is  the  communion  in  glory  with  Christ , 
which  the  members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  immedi¬ 
ately  after  death. 

A.  The  communion  in  glory  with  Christ,  which  the 
members  of  the  invisible  church  enjoy  immediately  after 
death ,  is  in  that  their  souls  are  then  made  perf ect  in  holi¬ 
ness ,  and  received  into  the  highest  heavens ,  where  they 
behold  the  face  of  God  in  light  and  glory;  waiting  for  the 
full  redemption  of  their  bodies,  which  even  in  death  con¬ 
tinue  united  to  Christ,  and  rest  in  their  graves  as  in  their 
beds,  till  at  the  last  day  they  be  again  united  to  their 
souls.  Whereas  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  at  their  death 
cast  into  hell,  where  they  remain  in  torments  and  utter 
darkness ;  and  their  bodies  kept  in  their  graves,  as  in  their 
prisons,  until  the  resurrection  and  judgment  of  the  great 
day. 

Shorter  Catechism. 

Q.  37.  What  benefit  do  believers  receive  from  Christ  at 
their  death  f 

A.  The  souls  of  believers  are  at  their  death  made  per¬ 
fect  in  holiness ,  and.  do  immediately  pass  into  glory;  and 
their  bodies,  being  still  united  to  Christ,  do  rest  in  their 
graves  till  the  resurrection. 


The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
represented  by  the  undersigned  Prosecuting  Committee, 


offers  in  evidence  tlie  whole  of  the  said  Inaugural  Ad¬ 
dress,  both  the  first  and  second  editions,  and  all  the 
works  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D.,  quoted 
therein,  in  so  far  as  they  bear  upon  this  case ;  also  the 
appendix  to  the  second  edition  of  said  Address,  and  all 
the  works  of  the  said  Rev.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  D.D., 
quoted  therein,  in  so  far  as  they  bear  upon  this  case ;  the 
whole  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  the  whole  of  the  Stand¬ 
ards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America. 


George  W.  F.  Birch,  D.D., 

Joseph  J.  Lampe,  D.D., 

Robert  F.  Sample,  D.D., 

John  J.  Stevenson, 

John  J.  McCook, 

Prosecuting  Committee. 


NOTE. 


Before  the  Amended  Charges  and  Specifications 
were  declared  to  be  in  order,  the  Presbytery 
directed  the  following  changes  to  be  made  : 

1.  Strike  out  Charges  IV.  and  VII.,  so  that 
Charge  V.  thus  becomes  No.  IV.,  Charge  VI. 
becomes  No.  V.,  and  Charge  VIII.  becomes 

o 

No.  VI. 

2.  To  transfer  the  proofs  from  the  Scripture, 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechism,  from  the 
Specifications  to  the  Charges. 


V 


